US1785107A - Toothpick holder - Google Patents

Description

1930- c. M. BARTHOLOMEW 1,735,107

TOOTHPICK HOLDER Filed Feb. 14. 1929 Patented Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES QASSIUS M. IBARTHOLOMEW, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO roornrrck HOLDER Application filed February 14, 1929. Seria.1.No.' 339,994.

This invention relates to dispensing devices and pertains particularly to a device designed for holding and serving toothpicks.

The primary object of this invention'is 5 to provide an improved toothpick holder clesigned especially for use upon tables, which will present picks for removal bya user but will keep the ends-of the same covered previous to their removal from the holder, so

that all of the toothpicks, even the one in position to be removed will have their ends shielded from contact with the fingers of any person touching the dispenser, or from dust which might settle on the dispenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toothpick holder and server so designed that all of the picks therein will be fed smoothly to the outlet of the dispenser without jamming and in which the pick pre- 0 sented for removal may be easily and quickly extracted. a

j Another object of the invention is to provide a means for holding an advertisement display card in position upon the front of the server in such a manner that the full usefulness of the card will be obtained without interfering with the action of theserver.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a art of this specification, with the understanc ing, however, that the invention is not confined to any strictconformity with theshowing of 1 135 the drawing but may be changedor modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the or similar heavy material which will serve to maintain the server in upright position against accidental upsetting, the top surface of which base may be appropriately finished as by enameling or similarprocess.

The base has secured thereto in anyap- .propriate mannerasuitable supporting bar '2 which extends upwardly therefrom at an inclination as shown, in the present instance the bar being extended through an aperture 3 in the base with the lower end thereof extending at an angle and positioned in a recess 4 in the under face, a bolt 5 being extended through the angled portion of the support and through the base to secure the support in position.

The toothpick server proper, comprises a receptacle indicated as a whole by the numeral 6, this receptacle'being of elongated rectangular formation and having the back 7 secured to the forward face of'the supporting bar ,2 longitudinally thereof, as shown. The lower end wall 8 of the receptacle Which constitutes the bottom when the same is mounted, extends downwardlyat an obtuse angle withrespect; to the back and terminates at its forward'edge in the upwardly and outwardly inclined platform flange 9, the point of joinder between the platform 9 and the'bottom 8 forming an angle 10in which one or more of the picks in thereceptacle position; 7 At its forward edge there is formed in the bottom 8 of the receptacle and through the flange 9, in'the central portion thereof, the cut back recess 11 which per- IIlltSOf the insertion of'aiflnger topostion beneath the picksjso that one thereof" may be'readily liftedfrom the angle 10 off on the platform.

Each side wall 12of the receptacle 6 at its forward edge is provided with a forwardly projecting flange 13 upon the inner face of a which is formed a guide groove 14.

Removably positioned in the forward open side ofthe receptacle is a closure body or door 15, the longitudinal edges of'which are slidably received in the grooves 14, in the manner shown. The lower edge of the door 15 is provided with the upwardly and out- "wardly directed guard flange 16, whichjexwe r tends across the edge of the door, the central portion of this flange and of the door being cut away, as indicated at 17 to provide a finger opening similar to the opening 11 in the bottom of the receptacle.

Adjacent the top edge the door 15 has a depression formed therein forming the inwardly projecting lug 18 which, when the door is in closed position frictionally engages beneath the edge of the downwardly and forwardly extending flange 19 from across the front edge of the top wall of the receptacle 6, in the manner shown.

This lug 18 prevents accidental raising of the door and the downward movement of the door beyond a predetermined point is limited by the turned over top edge 20, which abuts the top of the receptacle, in the manner shown. With the turned over edge 20 of the door resting against the top of the receptacle 6, the guard flange 16 is held in such spaced relation to the platform 9 that a toothpick may be readily drawn from the hollow of the platform. The guard flange 16 besides serving to prevent unnecessary removal of a number of picks at one time also acts as a cover for the picks in position to be. removed to protect them from dust and dirt, and also to prevent the fingers of a person extracting a pick from the holder from touching the ends of the other picks moving down into pos tion for removal.

Secured across the face of the door 15 is a plate 21, the bottom edge of which is provided with the forwardly projecting flange 22 while each side edge is turned inwardly to form guide slots 23. This plate is designed to receive in the guide slots 23 the ends of an advert sing card which when in position may rest upon the flange 22.

From the foregoing description it will be readily apparent that the server of the character described the picks may be conveniently disposed about a restaurant upon the tables thereof where they will be readily obtainable by persons and at the same time they will be effectively shielded from dust, dirt and contam nation.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A toothpick server comprising an elongated rectangular receptacle arranged in substantially upright position, said receptacle having a forward wall and a bottom wall arranged to form an acute angle therewith, means to permit of the removal of said forward wall, a flange constituting a platform extending upwardly and outwardly from and forming an angle with the forward edge of said bottom wall, a guard flange extending upwardly and outwardly from the lower edge of said forward wall, means for supporting the forward wall to maintain the flange in spaced relation, the lower edge of said forward wall being directed at the point of the angle formed between the platform and the bottom wall, said forward wall and bottom wall having the lower edges thereof centrally recessed to facilitate grasping a pick, and means for securing the forward wall in position.

2. A server comprising an elongated rectangular receptacle designed to be arranged in substantially upright position and having a forwardly and downwardly inclined bottom wall and side walls terminating at their forward edges in forwardly projecting flanges each having a guide groove pressed in and longitudinally of the inner face thereof, a door slidably received between said flanges and in said grooves, means for limiting the downward movement of the door, a platform flange formed transversely of the forward edge of the receptacle bottom and projecting upwardly and forwardly therefrom to form a pick receiving angle along said edge, and a guard flange formed along the lower edge of said door and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom to position in spaced relation to the platform flange, said bottom and door having the lower edges thereof centrally recessed to permit of the insertion of the fingers.

3. A server comprising an elongated rectangular receptacle designed to be arranged in substantially upright position and having a forwardly and downwardly inclined bottom wall and side walls terminating at their forward edges in forwardly projecting flanges each having a guide groove pressed in and longitudinally of the inner face thereof, a door slidably received between said flanges and in said grooves, means for limiting the downward movement of the door, a platform flange formed transversely of the forward edge of the receptacle bottom and projecting upwardly and forwardly therefrom to form a pick receiving angle along said edge, a guard flange formed along the lower edge of said door and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom to position in spaced relation to the platform flange, said bottom and door having the lower edges thereof centrally recessed to permit of the insertion of the fingers, and means for frictionally retaining said door in position against accidental opening movement.

4. A server comprising an elongated rectangular receptacle designed to be arranged in substantially upright position and having a forwardly and downwardly inclined bottom wall and side walls terminating at their forward edges in forwardly projecting flanges each having a guide groove formed longitudinally of the inner face thereof, a door slidably received between said flanges and in said grooves, means for limiting the downward movement of the door, a platform flange formed transversely of the forward edge of the receptacle bottom and projecting upwardly and forwardly therefrom to form a pick receiving angle along said edge, a guard flange formed along the lower edge of said door and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom to position in spaced relation to the platform flange, said bottom and door having the lower edges thereof centrally recessed to permit of the insertion of the fingers, means for frictionally retaining said door in position'against V tom and front walls and extending transversely thereacross in spaced relation, each flange having a recess formed in the center thereof and extending into the adjacent wall, that flange extending from the bottom wall joining the same at a point inwardly of the plane of the front wall.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CASSIUS M. BARTHOLOMEW.

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